Norwegian electropop queen Annie had us with 2004's Anniemal, a collection of smart, stylish confections that included the sublime single "Chewing Gum." And her long-awaited sophomore album, Don't Stop, a more polished effort that's just as much fun as the first, doesn't disappoint. We caught up with her at New York's Tribeca Grand Hotel, where she played a DJ set in support of the new release this past weekend.

—Erin Clements

How is Don't Stop different from Anniemal?

I think it's punchier and much stronger. I felt much more secure when I was doing this album. Anniemal was my first album, so I didn't know what I was doing. I was just playing around. I'm happier with the melodies and lyrics on this one.

When I signed with Island there was an A&R guy named Nick Gatfield who worked there. And he was great—we had the same opinion about music and it was very easy to work with him. He really understood me and got the whole project. But after three or four months he left for EMI UK. It was a very typical major-label situation—I think a lot of artists go through that type of thing, where you sign up with one person and then that person leaves. And then I had a bit of a problem because I started working with someone who didn't understand me at all, and told me to change all the songs.

And now it's out on indie label Smalltown Supersound. How did the album change from its original incarnation?

I went back in the studio straight after I left Island and recorded four new songs. And I changed the artwork because I wasn't happy with what Island had. I wanted to do my own thing.

You named your cat after both Joey Ramone and Joey McIntire from New Kids on the Block. What's the story behind that?

He was coming to my school every day asking for food. And he was so annoying that the janitor said "I have to kill this cat." So I took him home and named him after the two guys that I really liked.

In the song "I Don't Like Your Band," whose band don't you like?

I was watching MTV and saw more and more videos that were just depressing. It was the day before I was going in the studio and I was thinking "What should I write about?" And the only thing I could think of was "I don't like this band." So I thought maybe I should write a song about that. It wasn't one particular band—it was just every single band that I was watching was crap.

I imagine there's a similar story behind "The Breakfast Song."

I was in Finland with my ex-boyfriend, cooking some eggs. And I was just like, "What do you want for breakfast?!" and then thought "That sounds great. We should go record this." So I don't think we actually had breakfast. We just went to the studio and recorded it.

Where was the album recorded?

I started in New York City and worked a little with James Iha, but most of the album was recorded in England, in three different studios. I worked in a studio in Westerham, where Alice in Wonderland grew up. The whole story is based on this girl called Alice who lived in this particular house. So it's very old and strange. I also worked in London with Paul Epworth.

What was it like working with Franz Ferdinand's Alex Kapranos, who created the hook for "My Love Is Better"?

I'd always been a big fan of him. I met him in Tokyo a couple years ago when I went to see MIA live and he was there, so I asked him if he was interested. And we just kept on e-mailing, and he was up for it. He also played on "Loco."

You appeal to both pop fans and the indie crowd. Why do you think that is?

I still buy a lot of vinyl and listen to very experimental music. But I can also listen to Kylie Minogue—I love some of her stuff. When it comes to melody, I'm very inspired by pop. When it comes to the production side, I'm inspired by other stuff. Sometimes I find straight-up pop a bit boring when it comes to the production. It's so obvious. You listen to it and know exactly what's going to come in ten seconds.

What's the best advice you've gotten?

Keep on doing what you like the most. If you really want to be a chef, or study literature, or be a singer or dancer, you should try as hard as you can to work for it. I see so many people who regret not doing what they really wanted to. And they often are so miserable.

What's on your current playlist?

I like the new Air album, Girl Talk, the new Pet Shop Boys album, Empire of the Sun.

What are your plans for 2010?

First I'm going to go back in the studio and do some songwriting. I recently wrote a song with Xenomania for this girl band Mini Viva called "I Left My Heart in Tokyo," which did really well in England. I'm going to keep on doing some songwriting, record some new stuff, and early next year, I'm going to start a tour in Europe and then the U.S.

What's on your holiday wish list?

I'm actually looking for the Chloë Sevigny tiger sweater. I tried to find it here, but it was sold out.